Who we are
ZEI – the Zionist Education Initiative – is the educational arm of Nefesh B’Nefesh, dedicated to strengthening the connection between the Jewish People, the Land of Israel, and the State of Israel through meaningful Zionist education.
Through curriculum, educator training, classes, tours, workshops, and experiential learning, ZEI brings together Jewish history, Tanach, archaeology, Zionist thought, and modern Israel to help learners understand the Jewish story and discover their place within it.
We believe Zionist education should do more than teach about Israel. It should give students, educators, families, and communities the knowledge and confidence to understand why Israel matters, why it has always mattered to the Jewish People, and what that connection means for them today.
From classrooms across North America to learning experiences throughout Israel, ZEI is building a more informed, connected, and confident generation of Jews for whom Israel and Zionism are an integral part of their Jewish identity.
Why now?
Across the Jewish world, people are asking big questions about Israel, Zionism, and what it means to be part of the Jewish story. They deserve more than slogans. They deserve the knowledge, confidence, and space to explore meaningful answers.
At a time when conversations about Israel are increasingly complex, students, educators, families, and communities need opportunities to engage with Zionism with depth, honesty, and curiosity. They need to understand where we came from, why Israel matters, and how each of us fits into a story that is still unfolding.
That is where ZEI comes in.
We equip educators with the knowledge and tools to teach Zionism with confidence. We help students explore Israel as an integral part of their Jewish identity. And we create meaningful learning experiences for adults, families, and communities seeking to deepen their understanding and connection to Israel.
Through curriculum, classes, tours, workshops, educator training, and experiential learning, we make Zionism relevant, personal, and alive — not simply something to know, but something to explore, wrestle with, connect to, and make our own.
Because a strong Jewish future depends on a Jewish People who know their story, understand their connection to Israel, and see themselves as part of its next chapter.
BY THE NUMBERS
CORE principles GUIDING ZEI
We connect past, present, and future to build confident, informed Zionist identity.
Zionism is a Living Conversation
Rooted in Torah and Jewish history, yet dynamically connected to today’s challenges and opportunities.
Pedagogy as Inspiration
Education succeeds when it is personal, relevant, experiential, and inspiring.
Everyone Has a Chapter to Write
ZEI empowers every learner to become an active builder of the Jewish future.
Global Unity,
Local Impact
ZEI strengthens the ties between Israel and Diaspora communities through curriculum, dialogue, and shared vision.
Archaeology & Evidence Matter
ZEI integrates the powerful story told by the land itself—its stones, artifacts, texts, and landscapes.